The study, completed by a team of geriatrics researchers at Yale, found that in older adults aged 70 or older, taking blood pressure medication was linked to a higher risk of serious falls. (Serious falls as in, falls that caused an ER visit for a fracture, a dislocated joint, or a brain bleed.

What are the long term side effects of blood pressure medication?

But beware: while beneficial for blood pressure, extended use can lead to dizziness, muscle and bone pain, nausea, vomiting, and high potassium levels.

How are the elderly affected by medication?

Common side effects of medicines in older adults can be dizziness and falls, weight loss or weight gain, and changes in memory or our ability to think and process information. These, in turn, can cause older adults to get hurt and may ultimately lessen their ability to function in day-to-day life.

Does blood pressure medication shorten your life?

In fact, those in the study who took medicine to lower their blood pressure for more than four years reduced their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease over a 20-year period, the researchers found. “For the first time, we prove that treating high blood pressure prolongs life,” said lead researcher Dr.

What is the safest blood pressure medicine for the elderly?

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ARBs are considered the alternative first-line treatment for hypertension in the elderly population when a diuretic is contraindicated. In elderly hypertensive patients with diabetes or HF, ARBs are considered first-line treatment and an alternative to ACE inhibitors.

What are symptoms of too much blood pressure medication?

Symptoms

• Irregular heartbeat.
• Lightheadedness.
• Low blood pressure.
• Rapid or slow heartbeat.
• Heart failure (shortness of breath and swelling of the legs)
• Shock (extremely low blood pressure)

What is the safest blood pressure medication with the least side effects?

Thiazide diuretics generally have fewer side effects than the others. This is especially true when they’re prescribed in the low doses that are generally used in treating early high blood pressure. Examples of thiazide diuretics include: chlorthalidone (Hygroton)

What is the most common medication problem in the elderly?

Warfarin is one of the most common causes of medication-related hospitalizations in older adults. To reduce the risk of serious problems, one may need to apply extra care in monitoring warfarin effect (via the prothrombin blood test) and extra care in checking for interactions when a new drug is prescribed.

Why is it that blood pressure may increase in older adults?

“As you age, the vascular system changes. This includes your heart and blood vessels. In the blood vessels, there’s a reduction in elastic tissue in your arteries, causing them to become stiffer and less compliant. As a result, your blood pressure increases,” Nakano said.

What is the most common inappropriately prescribed drug to the elderly?

Diphenhydramine and amitriptiline are the most common inappropriately prescribed medications with high risk adverse events while propoxyphene and doxazoxin are the most commonly prescribed medications with low risk adverse events.

Can you live to an old age with high blood pressure?

Yes, if left untreated. But when blood pressure is controlled, the risks are greatly reduced. The important message is that treating hypertension can prevent severe complications and add dramatically to life expectancy. Last, knowing the cause of disease is helpful.

Why are blood pressure meds bad for you?

Summary: The importance of preventing hypertension is reinforced by a study showing anti-hypertension medicines can increase stroke risk by 248 percent, according to new research.

What is the life expectancy of a person with high blood pressure?

The life expectancy of a 50-year-old smoker with high blood pressure and high cholesterol was estimated to be 24 years, while a 50-year-old with none of the risk factors could expect to live nine additional years, to age 83.

What is the normal blood pressure for 80 year old?

The ideal blood pressure for seniors is now considered 120/80 (systolic/diastolic), which is the same for younger adults. The high blood pressure range for seniors starts at hypertension stage 1, spanning between 130-139/80-89.

What is the normal blood pressure for a 85 year old?

Clearly, this is a small percentage, but not an insignificant number. When treating hypertension in patients over the age of 85 years, the usual target blood pressure is 150/80 mmHg for reduction of the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular events.

What is the average blood pressure for a 70 year old?

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) updated their guidelines in 2017 to recommend men and women who are 65 or older aim for a blood pressure lower than 130/80 mm Hg.